Tag Archives: Collaborative Team Practice

By Andrew Cox on November 21, 2016What Happens to Our Home When We Get Divorced? As Divorce Lawyers, this is one of the most pressing concerns facing our clients. The most significant asset that many families have is the family home. To most people, the house is more than just a house, it is a family home. It has special significance … Continue Reading

By Andrew Cox on June 3, 2016If you are in the process of separating, I know you have that friend. That already divorced friend – the one that is telling you it gets worse before it gets better. The one that says it’s a process. Your friend is right. Don’t discount what they’re saying. There is lots of literature on the … Continue Reading

By Lynn Kirwin on February 9, 2016Do you want to represent yourself in your separation/divorce? Makes sense. You can save a lot of money. But you aren’t a lawyer. It can be a bit scary. We can support you in a variety of ways. We can draft documents for you but you go to court on your own thus saving you … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on December 17, 2015I published this blog a few years ago. Many people have commented positively about it. As a result, it is becoming a Christmas tradition. So, here it goes again! Are you dreading Christmas? Will it be your first special holiday since your separation? Are you depressed about not having your children for New Year’s Eve, … Continue Reading

By Andrew Cox on May 11, 2015It is no secret to anyone involved in the legal industry that family court is an expensive method to resolve the issues arising from separation. Frankly, it can hemorrhage a family financially. One way to avoid huge court costs is to engage in the negotiation of a separation agreement. This enables you to keep your … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on March 3, 2014The term custody refers to how parents make decisions for their children. Joint Custody means that the major decisions are made by the parents together. Sole custody means that one parent makes the major decisions. If the other parent has sole custody, you have a legal right to access information about your children from caregivers, … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on February 27, 2014Daily structure and routine can help your children feel more secure. Children often find school stressful. Add to that the anxiety and worries of a recent separation and it can be a very difficult time for children. Giving your children a solid foundation of daily activities can help alleviate stress, anxiety and help with the … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on February 24, 2014Yes, there are apps to help make divorce go more smoothly. Edward Weinstein’s most recent blog introduces some new ones that can help make divorce less stressful and more functional. In addition, I encourage you to use Skype or Google Hangout. These are great ways of doing video conferencing with your children when you can’t see … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on September 10, 2013Avvo recently did a survey of 890 consumers and 447 lawyers. Their results are in the infographic below. The number one concern for consumers going through a divorce is cost. Not surprising. Yet so many people end up in Family Court. Here is a good comparison of the costs of Ontario Family Court proceedings versus Collaborative … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on May 24, 2013 The total amount of revolving debt in Canada is more than $600 billion, and that doesn’t include secured debt, like mortgages and car loans. When you carry a chunk of this debt on top of the expenses and difficulty of a divorce, you’re paying interest every month just for the privilege of continuing to … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on April 19, 2013A child of divorce writes on how to help your child during divorce. What better source? Thanks to Melissa Farrell a freelance writer who lives in Kansas for her insights. Speaking as a child of divorce, every situation is different. My parents were high school sweethearts and were together for over 10 years before they decided to … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on April 15, 2013Today’s guest blogger is writing about the 5 mistakes made by people who are in family court. While the advice is sound, it reinforces to me how undesirable it is to be in Family Court. It really is an awful experience. But, alas, if you are in Family Court, heed the following good advice… or … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on March 2, 2013Trust is essential for every relationship and is often damaged when people are getting divorced. It can be damaged many different ways. An affair, a lie or a betrayal can damage trust. Trust may also be broken when people change and no longer understand each other. They just grow apart. In my life, I know … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on January 22, 2013There is a saying… "the Devil is in the Details"…. meaning details that are overlooked can cause problems later. No doubt this is true when drafting a separation agreement. Attention to detail is essential. The top ten big issues that need to be resolved are: Where will the children live? How much time with the … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on December 18, 2012Christmas is for children but when Mom and Dad have separated or divorced, it can be a difficult time. I remember how difficult it was my first year after separation. I was devastated. Now, many years later, we schedule our "Christmas" any time between December 22nd and December 28th. The actual date does not matter… … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on November 13, 2012One of the most stressful aspects of separation and divorce is the uncertainty.You don’t know how much money you will have, how much time you will have with your children and when the pain will go away. When I went through my own divorce, I hated the uncertainty and I am a divorce lawyer! The government … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on September 7, 2012Separation and Divorce: These are ugly words. They conjure up feelings of pain, disappointment, fear, and uncertainty. What is the first step? How do I get through this? I remember when I went through my own divorce (yes, divorce lawyers sometimes get divorced too) how stressful it was for me. I feared the impact it … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on July 16, 2012Sandra Ramos is a financial planner who has helped many clients who are going through a divorce make good financial decisions about their future. Sandra graciously agreed to offer a guest blog with her insights. Here it is. Following any marriage breakdown there is a time of emotional healing, but there is also a need for … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on June 27, 2012Below is a fantastic graphic about the cost of kids. I have four of them and can say, without a doubt they are expensive and worth every dime. They truly enrich my life. Created by: EarlyChildhoodEducation… Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on June 20, 2012Brenda Shapiro, a lawyer in Florida, submitted the following article to me about how in the USA there are provisions for wealthy parents to pay money into trust funds for their child as child support. We don’t have such statutory provisions in Ontario, Canada but I really like the idea. In Brenda’s example, a young … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on May 17, 2012Helping your children adjust after your divorce is essential. Heather Smith offers excellent advice on what you should do to help you child after the dust settles. Here is Heather’s blog: 4 Steps to Take with Your Child After Divorce You have sat your child down and given the dreaded speech that you … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on April 20, 2012Darren Robinson is a mortgage broker in Barrie. He helps many clients who are going through a divorce refinance their home and get on their feet. He has some interesting and suprising advice. Darren is with Dominion Lending in Barrie. He wrote the following excellent blog: How does separation or divorce impact my home & … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on April 10, 2012Determining income is the first step toward determining the proper level of child support and spousal support. This is easy to do for employees. We just look at line 150 of their personal income tax return. The challenge is determining the proper level of income for those people who are self-employed or are employed by … Continue Reading

By Brian Galbraith on March 12, 2012The other day the judge in Family Court said "We can’t consider "fairness" when deciding cases." I was shocked but then I realized that she is right. Family Court is about rules and process. Like cases are to be treated alike according to the law. The law is a set of principles that the judge uses … Continue Reading